Limerick man’s 43 years in building industry honoured

A Limerick man who has dedicated 43 years of his life working in the construction industry was honoured with a life time achievement award.

The Civil Engineers Contractors Association (CECA) awarded William O’Brien after his nomination by Alistair Thompson, the preconstruction director for VolkerFitzpatrick, William’s employers.

A devout GAA fan, William, known to many as ‘Willie’, moved to London at the age of 19.

He played in the backline for Kilburn-based St Mary’s Hurling club, winning a senior county championship with them in 1979, and later acted as treasurer and board member until the club ceased to exist.

Through his career William’s work has varied from major complex civil engineering structural projects such as the A406 Fore Street Underpass, high quality landscaping works at Royal Victoria Square, to motorway and major maintenance schemes on the M25, M1, M6, and A12.

VolkerFitzpatrick say that ‘throughout this time Willie has been a welcoming and good humoured member of the team’.

He began his career in construction as a general operative with Fitzpatrick Ltd and then Fitzpatrick & Nichols. In 1982, he progressed to general foreman with Fitzpatrick &Son and finally to works manager with VolkerFitzpatrick Ltd.

Alistair Thompson said: “Willie has been a constant and reliable force within the business taking the ever changing nature of the construction industry and the business easily in his stride.

“He has always been willing to share his wealth of knowledge and lessons learned built up over decades, knowing just when to give a much needed word of encouragement. This lifetime achievement award is a fitting recognition of his dedicated service to the construction industry.”